does anyone know how many knee replacements a person can have?

Hi @cobweb - I've had a TKR on both of my knees. The official Mayo website says TKRs usually last more than 15 years, but my ortho surgeon told me the new knees last longer than that. I'm 68 and he told me I wouldn't need another one before I turned 98! Anyway, I know that TKR revisions are possible but I thought they were usually for extended wear & tear on the joint or when infection occurs. I'm wondering when you say that your TKR "came lose", what the symptoms were? It must have been awfully scary. Have seen your orthopedic surgeon for an opinion? I believe there are good options out there for repairing damage. Had you already had one TKR before the one 6 years ago? Wishing you the best!

It was my first tkr and i have had swelling and pain since i had the operation 6 years ago. I notived i am more comfortable walking down my stairs backwards than forewards. Very good at it also. I talked to the surgeon and we did some bone scans and he thinks my bones suspect a fracture and trying to overgrow the device. It does ache but nothing new when you have pain all the time. I take no pain pills as most do harm to your stem cells etc. I do not plan at this time to have a tkr again. I have heard you can only have 2 and the third is amputation. I cannot find an answer yet. I will see how i get along with a device that had come lose. Now u can see why i did stem cells on the other knee. Wish i had a do over.

Hi @cobweb - I'm sorry I'm just now getting back to you. I had a little bug and was under the weather this week. Wow! I know your situation must be scary. I would NOT want to hear that there was a possible fracture. Also, I have never heard the thing about only 2 replacements - then amputation. And I can't find that in any research I've done. We have a fair number of people here who have had TKRs and even revisions. I'm going to ask these folks if they have heard that amputation was the only option after a 2nd TKR: @contentandwell, @JustinMcClanahan, @lynnwade54, @doodles418

@debbraw @cobweb I have never had to consider a revision so I know nothing about this, but the thought of amputation would be extremely frightening. I would go to the best possible at a top-rated medical center, for a second opinion.
JK

Someone I know got a severe infections in the device and they had to remove it. Long story, but the end is he had the choice of amputation or fusion, and he chose fusion. Permanent limp, but not as bad as the alternative. I would get 3 or 4 opinions on that, if it were me.

I am recovering from my third knee replacement in 6 years. Each time was different problems but my second one was where the cement came loose. Each time the recovery seems to get harder. I am not getting a good range of motion with this one but function and mobility is better than before surgery.

Debbra/Win Sturgeon: I remember reading a post from someone who underwent at least 4 TKR sugeries, I believe 2 revisions on the same knee. Read it sometime in the last 2 or 3 weeks. Have been hunting for that post, no luck so far. Perhaps someone else saw it and remembers under what heading it was posted. But it definitely sounded like 2 TKR’s or even revisions are not the pre-cursor to amputation.

thanks

I have never heard of amputation associated with TKRs or revisions. What I can say is that I am glad that I waited to have a TKR as a senior, particularly since I am still dealing with scar tissue more than 2 years later. This is it for me. No more surgeries!

My doctor has given me Orthovist in my knees - twice now. The last time was 2 years. That is a nice long stretch- as it's supposed to last 1-1 1/2 yrs. He says he has patients on it for years - all to avoid replacement knee surgery. I'm in. I also do knee exercises every day.